Pipe wrench having arm with a recess therein and a pivotally mounted spring-biased pipe-engaging jaw in the recess



March 31, 1953 B. LURIE PIPE WRENCH HAVING ARM WITH A RECESS THEREIN AND A PIVOTALLY-MOUNTED SPRING-BIASED PIPE-ENGAGING JAW IN THE RECESS Original Filed April 20, 1949 A /z SUZOTT'I je/g czv/zzkz ljzz/za A 4 l A Patented Mar. 31, L 1953 PIPE WRENCH HAVING ARM WITH A RECESS THEREIN AND A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED SPRING-BIASED PIPE-ENGAGIN G J AW IN THE RECESS Benjamin L. Lurie, Chicago, Ill.

Original application April 20, 1949, Serial No.

88,581. Divided and this application September 6, 1951, Serial No. 245,305

2 Claims.

f The present invention relates generally to wrenches. More particularly the invention relates to that type of wrench which is designed primarily for use in turning a pipe or like article and as its principal components or parts comprises: (1) an elongated housing-like body; (2) a handle which projects inwards from the inner end of the body; (3) a first arm which is connected fixedly to, and projects outwards from, the outer end of the body and is provided at its outer end with a laterally extending, pivotally mounted, pipe-engaging jaw; (4) a second arm which is disposed in opposed relation with the first arm and embodies at its outer end alateral- 1y extending, pivotally mounted, pipe-engaging jaw; (5) an adjusting screw which is adapted to move the second arm to and from the first arm for the purpose of adjusting the wrench to grip pipes of different diameters or sizes and has its ends pivotally connected by pivot pins to the central portions of the arms respectively, and (6) mechanism operative automatically in response to swinging of the handle in a direction away from the second arm after application of the jaws to a pipe to move the second arm outwards away from the body and also to swing or tilt the second arm in such direction as to cause its jaw to move towards the jaw on the first arm.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a pipe wrench of the aforementioned type in which the pipe-engaging jaw on the outer end of the second arm is mounted in a novel manner for limited pivotal movement and has associated with it a spring whereby the jaw is urged rotatively in the direction of its inner end in order that its pipe-engaging surface is most advantageously positioned for reception of the pipe to be turned by the wrench.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe wrench which, due to the arrangement and manner of mounting of the jaw in the outer end of the second arm, is generally of new and improved construction, may be manufactured or fabricated at a comparatively low cost, effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose, and is so constructed that it may be quickly and readily applied to, and removed from, a pipe or like article to be turned.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present pipe wrench will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. a

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like letters and numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a pipe wrench embodying the invention with the handle swung toward the second arm and in the posi-. tion it normally assumes preparatory to application of the jaws of the wrench to a pipe to be turned;

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation showing the wrench after the handle has been swung relatively to the body in a direction away from the second arm so as to move the second arm outwards away from the body and also to tilt the arm so as to cause the jaw thereon to move towards the jaw on the first arm; a Figure 3 is a bottom perspective of the second arm, i. e., the arm that is movable to and from the fixed arm in response to manipulation of the adjusting screw;

Figure 4 is a perspective of the jaw that is pivotally mounted on the outer end of the second arm;

Figure 5 is a perspective of the pin equipped U-shaped clip which serves to anchor one end of the spring for retracting the jaw on the second arm and also to hold such jaw in pivotally connected relation with the outer end of the second arm; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 6-6-of Figure 1. V

The wrench which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is primarily designed; or adapted foruse in turning a pipe p and-as its principal parts comprises an elongated housinglike body It], a handle II, a pair of oppositely disposed arms I2 and I3, and a pair of pipe engaging jaws I4 and I5.

The body It is preferably in the form of a one-piece metallic casting and consists of a. bottom wall 16, a pair of side walls I! and a top wall l8. The two side walls are spaced a small distance apart and have the lower portions thereof joined to the side margins of the bottom'wall and their upper portions joined to the side marginsof the top wall. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the body is horizontally elongated and is open at its ends.

The handle H is in the form of a one-piece forging or metallic casting and is adapted to have one end thereof vgripped by the user in connection with use of the wrench for pipe turning purposes. The other end of the handle extends into the inner end portion of the interior of the body [9 and is pivotally connected to the adjacent portion of the body by way of a horizontal pivot pin 19. The latter permits. the handle to swing up and down to a limited extent relativelyto the body ill of the wrench and has its ends fixedly mounted within aligned or registering circular holes in the inner end'portions of the side walls ll of the body.. The central portion of the pivot pin 29 extendstloosely through a circular hole 2| in the adjacent or proximal end of the handle H. The ho1e.'2.l is located a small distance inwards of the extremity of the proximal end of theihandle and.

such extremity is provided with. a notch 22. .As

shown in Figure 2 the notch is arcuate and 'extends lengthwise of the handle.

The arm 12 projects outwards from the outer lower. corner of the wrenchv body It! and has its inner. end formed integrally with the outer end of the'bottomwall'lfi andthe outer lower-portionsiof the side wallsil'l of the body. The central portion of thearm I2 is shaped'to form a substantially vertical socket 23. The latter extends completely. through the arm 12 and has open ends. The outer; end'of the arm !2 is of reduced width or thickness, 'as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The arm l3 overlies'the' arm'l'Z and'is movable to, and .from the latter,.as hereinafter described. The inner .endof the arm is extends through the open outer end-of the body and is disposed in the'npper central portion of the interior of the body. The central portion of the arm I3 is shapeql to form a substantially vertical socket 24 and this:extends' completely through the arm and 'is substantially vertically aligned with the socket 23in the central portion of the arm' 12. Aswillbe noted from. Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings; the movable arml3 projects outwards a comparativelysmall distance beyond the fixed arm 12. An upstanding adjusting screw 25 serves as a" mediumor instrumentality for moving the arm Hi to andfrom'the arm l2. This screw has its lower end disposed in the socket 23 and its upper end disposed in the socket 24. The lower end of the screw 25 has a right hand screw thread 26 andiextendsythrough athreaded holein the central portion 'of a'transversely extending pivot pin2'l. The ends of this pivot pin are journalled or rotatably mounted in a pair of coaxial'or aligned circular holes 28 in the sides of the socket defining central portion of the fixed arm l2.

The "pivot'pin 21 permits the adjusting screw 25 to swing back and forth between the outer endof the arm. 12 and the outer end of the body H1. The upper" end of the adjusting screw'is provided with a left hand screw thread 29 and extends-through a threaded hole in the central portion of a transversely extending pivot pin 30 The ends of the pivot pin 30 are journalled or rotatably mounted in a pair of coaxial holes 31 in the sides of the socket defining central portion of thearm l3. The central portion of theziadjusting screw 25 is provided with an .enlarged cylindrical knob 32 for: screw turning purposes: When the .screw is turned in one directionthearm. L3 movestowards the fixed arm l2. andwhen the: screw is' reversely turned or rotatedrthearm 1.3 is moved away from the fixed arm l3. By turning the adjusting screw 25 the arms i2. and 13 may be adjusted to receive. pipes of different diameters. The pivot pin 3!] permits the.;movab1e ,arm. lit to rock or tiltrelatively to thaadjusting screw25.

The jaw i4 is associated with, and carried by, the fixed arm l2. It is located at the outer end of such arm and has a convex upper face and a flat bottom face. Theiupper face of the jaw I3 is provided from the front end. thereof to the rear end with transversely extending pipeengaging teeth 33. The bottom portion of the jaw I4 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced, depending, integral lugs 34 and these straddle the outer;end.of the fixed arm [2. A pin 35 extends through; and: is fixed within, a transverse hole 36 in the outer end of the fixed arm l2. The ends of thepinrproject beyond the sides of the outer end .of the arm J2 and fit within holes 31 in the dependinglugst l on the jaw M in order to permitsuchjaw to rock or tilt outwards and inwards with respect to the fixed arm [2. The outer: portion of the upper surface of the fixed arm I2 is downwardly inclined with respect to thecontiguousportion of theupper. surface of the fixed arm: in order. to permit the desired rocking .or tiltingof the jaw 34. .As. shown in my aforementionedpatent,.each.of. the. holes 3.! in thedepending lugs 34 of the jaw 14 may have a greater. diameter thanthe pin 35 in order to provide."proper looseness. and. enable the jaw readily to seat itself when it is applied to the p p p- The :jaw 15 is associated with,.and carried by, themovable. arm i3. It underlies the outer end of the last-mentionedarm and is. disposed slightly outwards or forwardsofthe jaw It. .As shown in Fig. e, the jaw I5 is substantially semi-cylindrical ancLhas a'concave bottomface. with downwardly extendingrtransverse teeth. 38. The curvedor arcuate peripheral portion of the .jaw. 15 .fits within .a semi-circularv recess 3 9 in the lower portion of theouterend of themovablearrnlB. This-..recess extends: lengthwise ..or longitudinally of themovable armand has its rear or inner .end portion in communication with a pocketllll. The latter. is of less. width than the recess 39 .andis locatedbetween. the recess and the socket 24 in the centralportionof the movablearm I3. Therecess;39 has .the same-radius-as the jaw l5 and permitsthe jaw to turn or rotateback and forth about. the axisor center thereof. The upper central'portion of the jaw 55 has alongitudinally extending-semi cylindrical cutout GI as shown in FigureA. A U.-shaped. clip 42 and apin 43 serve to holdthe jaw. 15 in connected relation with the outerendof the movablearm. 13 while at thev same time permitting-.the-jaw to rock or rotate about its axis; The c1ip.-4'2 is preferably in theform of a stamping.:of;heavy gauge metaland consists of a crosspiece 44 andl'a' pair of: sidepieces 45.. It is so positioned or arranged that the crosspiece .44 andthe'adjacent ends of the side pieces 45 are disposed-in the pocket 59 and the outer or free ends of the side pieces project into the cutout 4! in the upper central portion of the jaw [5. A transyerselyextending pin 56 holds the clip immovably in place. Thisypin. has its ends fixedly mounted in aligned holes ll in the portions of the movable arm 13 that define the pocket 4!}. The central portions of the pin extend through aligned holesin theends. of they clip side pieces 35 that areconnected to thecrosspiece. id. The outer or free. ends. of the side. pieces of theclip. 42 have the upper corners thereof cut away in such manner as to form fingers 48, the upper surfaces of whichv are convexl-y curved. The pin 43 extends transversely across the upper central portion of the jaw l5 and has its ends fixedly :mounted in aligned holes in the jaw. The central portion of the pin 43 extends across the cutout 4| and rests on, and engages slidably, the convexly curved upper surfaces of the fingers 4B. The pin 43 coacts with the fingers 48 on the free ends of the side pieces 45 of the clip 82 to hold the jaw l5 in connected relation with the outer end of the arm l3 while at the same time permitting the arm to rock or rotate about its center. The outer upper corners of the clip side pieces t5 define shoulders i9 which coact with the pin 63 to limit counterclockwise turning or rotation of the jaw l5 as viewed in Figures 1 and 2. The jaw I5 is urged in a counterclockwise direction by way of a helical tension spring 53. The latter is located between the side pieces 45 of the clip 42 and has one end therer of anchored to the central portion of the pin 43. The other end of the spring is anchored to a transversely extending pin 5! which is located outwards of the clip retaining pin '46 and has its ends mounted in aligned holes in the inner ends of the clip side pieces 45. When the wrench is not in use the spring 59 rotates the jaw l5 in a counterclockwise direction until the pin 43 strikes against the shoulders 49. When the pin is in abutment with the shoulder the tooth equipped bottom surface of the jaw faces forwards and downwards and hence may readily be manipulated into gripping relation with the pipe 10. In connection with application of the wrench to the pipe the jaw I5 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 until the teeth 38 are in firm gripping relation with the pipe.

In addition to the parts heretofore mentioned the wrench comprises an inverted T-shaped lever 52 which, after application of the jaws l4 and i5 ofthe pipe p and in connection with downward swinging of the handle I I relatively to the body l0, automatically causes the movable arm [3 to move outwards a small distance from the body and also to tilt in such direction as to cause the jaw I5 theron to move towards the jaw M. This lever 52 is located in the central portion of the interior of the body in and is preferably in the form of a one-piece heavy metal stamping. It consists of an outwardly extending leg 53, an inwardly extending leg 54 and an upwardly'extending leg 55. The outwardly extending leg 53 is located a small distance above the outer end of the bottom wall E6 of the body I!) and is pivotally supported by way of a transversely extending pivot pin 56. The latter extends loosely through a circular hole 51 in the outwardly extending leg 53 of the lever 52 and has its ends fixedly mounted in coaxial circular holes 58 in the side walls ll of the wrench body it. It forms the articulation point for the lever and permits the latterto swing upwards and downwards. The inwardly extend ing leg 54 has a rounded or curved outer extremity and this fits within the notch 22 in the extremity of the pivoted end of the handle ll. When the handle is swung downwards, i. e., in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, the lever 52 is caused to swing upwards relatively to the body. Reverse or upward swinging of the lever H results in the lever 52 swinging downwards. The upwardly extending leg 55 of the lever has a rounded upper end and this fits pivot-- ally within a three-quarter round socket 59 in the inner end of the movable arm 13 of the wrench. In response to downward swinging of the handle H relatively to the body It the arm I3 is caused to move outwards and also tilt in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1 and 2. When the lever 52 is swung downwards in re- 6.. sponse to upward swinging of the handle H with respect to the body I!) the movable arm 13 is caused to move inwards and also to tilt in a counterclockwise direction.

When it is desired to use the wrench to turn swung into the position shown in Figure 1 and the wrench is shifted bodily toward the pipe in order to bring the jaws into gripping relation with opposite portions of the pipe. Following shift of the wrench towards the pipe the handle 7 In connection with i i is swung downwards. initial downward swinging of the handle the handle swings relatively to the body I!) and operates through the medium of the inverted T- shaped lever 52 to cause the movable arm l3 to move outwards from the body ii) and also to tilt in such direction as to cause the jaw 15 firmly to grip the adjacent portion of the pipe. After the jaw i5 is in firm gripping relation with the pipe further downward swinging of the handie will result in corresponding turning of the pipe 12. To remove the wrench it is only necessary to swing the arm I! upwards relatively to the body. Such swinging movement of the arm results in the lever 52 tilting the movable arm [3 so as to withdraw the jaw Hi from the pipe and also to move such arm bodily towards the body. If it is desired to turn the pipe 10 in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings instead of a counterclockwise direction the wrench is reversed, i. e., it is turned upside down.

The herein described wrench effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose by reason of the fact that it includes the inverted T-shaped lever 52 which in response to swinging movement of the handle H relatively to the body It in a direction away from the arm, causes the arm to move outwards and also to tilt to such an extent that its jaw i5 firmly grips the pipe. Due to its specific construction and design the wrench may be produced at a comparatively low cost. The adjusting screw 25 permits the movable arm E3 to be quickly adjusted to and from the fixed arm i2 in connection with application of the wrench to pipes of different diameters.

Whereas the wrench has been described as a medium for turning a pipe it is to be understood that it may be used to turn any other article. It is also to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 88,581, filed by me on April 20, 1949, and now Patent No. 2,579,594, dated December 25, 1951.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letter Patent is:

1. A pipe wrench comprising an arm provided at its outer end with a longitudinal arcuate recess and also a pocket in communication with the recess, a substantially semicylindrica1 jaw seated in the recess and slidable on the arcuate wall of the recess, said jaw being pro- After the arm I3 is.

videds; exteriorlyqiof rsaidrecess-with. a. teethequipped; pipe-engaging face, and having :a cutout: i in :its inner portion and a pin" .extend-.

ing transversely across-the cutout, and an elongated clip having'one. end thereof disposed. and anchored within/the pocket and its other end disposed in the cutoutand provided with a finger having-a convex surface spaced from, and in concentric-relation with, said arcuate wall for sliding engagement with the pin to hold the semi-cylindrical jaw in the recess while at the same time permitting it to slide back and forth alon saidarcuate wall.

2; A pipe wrench comprising an elongated arm provided at its outer endwith a longitudinaliyextending arcuate' recess and also a pocket in communication with the recess, a substantially semi-circular jaw seated in the recess and slidableon the'arcuate wall of said recess, saidjaw beingprovided exteriorlyof said recess with a teeth-equipped pipe-engaging face, and having a cutout in its inner portion and a pin extending transversely across the cutout, an elongated U shaped clip consisting of a-crosspiece and a pair- 8 of. side. pieces", the erosspiece.v of the clip. being. disposed and anchored Within the pocket, a, trans.- versely extending pin anchored in the side pieces of the clip and'spaced from the crosspiece, the

REFERENCES .CITED The.followingzreferences are of record. in the.

2 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. Name Date.

1,588,619 Roye et a1 June 15, 1926 25 2,407,990 Lurie Sept. 24, 1946 

